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In the same layer, known as the K-Pg Boundary, geologists would find tektites — bits of earth that shot into space when the asteroid hit, turned glassy with the heat of the atmosphere, and fell back to the surface.—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 28 Aug. 2024 The first clues leading to the impact site came from small, pebble-like glassy objects called tektites.—Michelle Lim, CNN, 9 Jan. 2020 Scientists have largely been able to determine the source crater for tektites, with the exception of one -- the Australasian field.—Michelle Lim, CNN, 9 Jan. 2020 The composition of those beads, or tektites, further suggests that they were formed when a massive asteroid slammed into the Earth with the force of 10 billion Hiroshimas and ended the Cretaceous period.—David Von Drehle, Twin Cities, 22 July 2019 In many K-Pg sites, the tektites formed a discrete layer—but not at Tanis.—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 31 Mar. 2019 These tektites formed in the Earth atmosphere in the aftermath of the asteroid or comet smashing into the Earth.—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 1 Apr. 2019 Tree resin at the site managed to catch some tektites before becoming fossilized as amber.—Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 31 Mar. 2019 The tektites would have been nearly falling from space, falling down to Earth at terminal velocities between 100 and 200 miles per hour, the scientists estimate.—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 1 Apr. 2019
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek tēktos molten, from tēkein to melt — more at thaw
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